Halley, who is hard of hearing, has been signing since he was two years old, a skill he’s mastered after recovering from a devastating diagnosis. Doctors told his family that spinal meningitis would not allow their toddler to walk, talk or hear.

We see how that turned out.

“God gave me this gift of signing," said Halley, a Jersey City resident. “If I can share this gift of the good news to the masses, I will do that."

Deaf in one ear and with partial hearing in the other, Halley speaks clearly and his hands most likely were super expressive that Sunday when Pastor Darrin Monroe called on him to interpret his message 10 years ago.

It just so happened to be about gifts, and Haley’s talent has become an unexpected blessing that has made Chosen Generation a worship destination for deaf congregants.

Patricia Ross, a Newark resident, became its first completely deaf member. She joined after her sister, Gail Chatman, who is a member, showed up that Sunday and was blown away when she saw Halley signing an inspirational song.

“I said OMG," Chatman said. She knew her sister would love this, and she was right when they returned.

Thyson Halley, a deaf interpreter at Chosen Generation Ministries, translates the sermon of Pastor Darrin Monroe, (right). The church has the largest number of deaf congregants in Newark.(Barry Carter NJ | Advance Media)

“I’ve never seen nothing like this before," said Ross, with Halley interpreting. Until that moment, she had been sitting at home doing nothing. There wasn’t a church for her to attend. At Chosen Generation, she “felt the sound of the music. Ooh, it just uplifted me.”

Gradually, many others were swept away. The numbers grew exponentially and now there are 35 members who attend service and Bible study.

“I never knew how big it would be,” Monroe said. “It’s one of the most active and strongest ministries in the church and most active."

They don’t just come to church and leave. They’re an integral part, greeting visitors, making all feel welcome as they have been welcomed.

It’s deaf friendly here.

There’s a deaf choir, deaf social worker, and a deaf advocacy group to help them speak up for their rights. Some are on the usher board. A deaf deacon is on the way and Monroe said he’s working on expanding the youth ministry so the children who are deaf can come to the church and be a part, as well.

At Chosen Generation the hearing and the deaf are united. No one is separate, not even on church committees. On any given Sunday, there’s a solid dozen deaf members praising God, giving thanks they are able to be fed spiritually.

It’s taken Dana Rudison, of Clifton, eight years to find a church like Chosen Generation after moving from Houston, Texas. Deaf ministries, she said, are hard to find in northern Jersey. Believe her. She’s a preacher’s kid, but as an adult in a new state, Rudison said she was lost without a home church, fellowship and spiritual guidance -- until she heard about Chosen.

Thyson Halley, a deaf interpreter, translates an inspirational song during church service at Chosen Generation Ministries, which has the largest deaf congregation in Newark.(Barry Carter NJ | Advance Media)

“I was speeding to get there," said Rudison, as Halley translated. “It’s an amazing feeling when you can see the interpreter interpreting." They’re visual, connecting with congregants through body language, facial expressions and sign language structure.

“The power of God just moved through me," Rudison said.

Halley doesn’t disappoint. Nor do the other interpreters. They take turns from the pulpit translating songs and Monroe’s sermon.

Lamar Towns, an Orange police sergeant who can hear, is one of them. He became a member after taking the church’s free classes when he was looking for a place to learn sign language.

“I decided that if I wanted to immerse myself in the language, I needed to be around the deaf on a regular basis,’’ he said. “This is my home.’’

Aside from their spiritual needs, the church has been a place where they address quality of life issues. Last May, a public safety meeting was informative for Newark city officials. Government and the private sector could do a better job making them feel inclusive.

“We had no idea," said Andrea Mason, senior manager of the city’s People’s Assembly, a liaison office between the city and residents.

Newark heard them, organizing a town hall for the deaf and hard of hearing, the blind and visually impaired. Held at St. Luke AME Church in July, more than 50 deaf residents showed up.

They told city officials that doorbells, when pressed, should activate flashing lights in apartments so they’ll know someone is at the door. In case of an emergency, workers in the private and public sector should be trained in basic sign language so they can communicate with the deaf.

Resisting arrest, Mason said, may not be the case during an encounter with law enforcement. They’re deaf and can’t hear an officer’s instructions. If handcuffed behind their backs, that makes the situation worse because Mason said it takes away their ability to speak.

Since then, Halley has trained 20 Newark police officers in sign language and the city held a second town hall last week. At that meeting, department heads said audible signals at traffic lights have been installed and there’s deaf signage on streets where they live. From now on, certain days will be set aside with the city’s health department to address any issue.

Next month, Chosen Generation is the site for its annual deaf conference. For the past five years, deaf folks from across the country have come for workshops, inspirational music and a spiritual message, all done in sign language.

This year’s speaker – guess who – is Halley.

Don’t worry, someone will be there to interpret his message for those of us who don’t know sign language.

“We’re bridging the gap between deaf and hearing through love," he said. “Love is the language that covers everything."

Chosen Generation Ministries, a church in Newark, has the largest number of deaf congregants in the city.(Barry Carter NJ | Advance Media)